Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain creator Hideo Kojima has reportedly left Konami. According to a thread on the website NeoGAF, Konami has pulled Kojima’s name from several websites and even studios.
The Kojima Productions’ LA studio has been renamed Konami Los Angeles Studio and Kojima’s name has been taken off of the official MGS V site (pictures below). Furthermore, when trying to reach the Kojima Productions website, the site is immediately redirected to Konami’s MGS V portal site.
In a statement to IGN, a Konami representative said the following:
“As we have already announced, we are shifting our production structure to a headquarters-controlled system, in order to establish a steadfast operating base capable of responding to the rapid market changes that surround our digital entertainment business. Konami Digital Entertainment (including Mr. Kojima), will continue to develop and support Metal Gear products. Please look forward to future announcements.”
Site’s former look with Kojima’s name.
MGS V site current look, without Kojima’s name.
Speaking to GameSpot, an anonymous source within Konami said that once The Phantom Pain is competed both Kojima and upper management will leave the company.
The source’s quote is as follows: “After we finish MGSV, Mr. Kojima and upper management will leave Konami. They said their contract ends in December…At a team meeting, Mr Kojima explained that team have to be one and make a good game for fans.”
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is scheduled to be released worldwide on September 1, 2015 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.
Heading off. pic.twitter.com/JWyh4DbeIY”
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) March 16, 2015
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